Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut says Centre failed to address issue of Kashmir Pandit employees

PTI, Jan 19, 2023, 7:22 PM IST

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday lashed out at the central government for its “failure” to address the issue of the protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees demanding relocation to Jammu following targeted killings in the Valley.

Raut said the Centre should come clear on whether it wants to send the employees back to the “valley of death”.

“Their (protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees) issue will echo in Parliament. We will get other political parties on board over it. We want a discussion on this issue,” he told reporters here.

“The government shows a lackluster attitude to the issue of Kashmir Pandits, on whom the BJP did its politics. For the PM, it is a small issue to address,” he said.

A majority of Kashmiri Pandit employees, who had left the valley following the killing of Rahul Bhat by terrorists last year, are holding a protest for the past 255 days here in support of their demand for relocation to Jammu.

Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit employee, was shot dead by the ultras inside his office at Chadoora in Budgam district in May last year. The killing had sparked off protests by the Kashmiri Pandit employees who refused to return to work.

Raut said the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014 by raking up the issue of Kashmir Pandits and Ram Mandir.

“People voted for them. They had then promised to get PoK back. Let that be taken care of later, first resolve their (KPs) issue and save their lives,” he said.

“Balasaheb was the first leader of the country who opened the gates of Maharashtra for KPs. We supported KPs in Maharashtra, gave them reservations and jobs too. If Balasaheb could do it, why not Modi ji or Amit Shah,” Raut said.

Raut, on a three-day tour to Jammu, will join the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra and also meet Sikh representatives for Punjabi to be declared an official language in Jammu and Kashmir.